Otto Wallin Steps Down From EBU Mandatory Slot For Kabayel

By Per Ake Persson

Now New York-based Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin (20-0) has relinquished his position as mandatory challenger for the EBU title currently held by the SES promoted Agit Kabayel.

Wallin will instead concentrate on the US market and makes his debut for Salita Promotions on April 13 in Atlantic City with a fight against Nick Kisner.

Otto Wallin won the EU title in his last fight which was April 21 of last year and hasen´t fought since - but others have and the result of that is a steady climb in the world ratings. The Swede is now #5 with both the IBF and WBA, #11 with the WBO and #36 with the WBC.

As for Kabayel, he will now be allowed to make another voluntary defence of the EBU title and he is also close to the big fights: he is #8 with the WBC,  #3 IBF and #9 WBO but not ranked by the WBA.

Danish tabloid Ekstrabladet revealed yesterday that new promoter and manager Peder Forsman has at best a clouded past. Back in 2005 Forsman, then named Peder Hougaard Knudsen, was sentenced to seven years in prison for eight cases of rape.

Forsman appealed the case but got the same sentence in a higher court. He has since done his time and entered the boxing scene as an agent for various boxers and is largely responsible for bringing Team Sauerland to the small town of Struer where WBO female 122 lb champion Dina Thorslund is a big star.

Forsman has since signed up a number of fighters including comebacking former WBA super middleweight challenger Patrick Nielsen and promoted his first show late February and has a bigger event booked for May 25 in Aarhus.

All this is up in the air now and If Forsman can stay in business is an open question.